The determination of runway landing conditions

Abstract

The invention discloses differing embodiments of methods, aircraft, and apparatus for determining the landing conditions of a runway. In one embodiment, braking data may be collected from an aircraft which has landed on the runway; a braking performance measurement of the aircraft may be calculated based on the braking data; and a normalized braking performance measurement may be determined based on the braking performance measurement. The invention may be utilized to predict the expected braking performance of various types of aircraft on the runway. The invention may provide landing performance information to a broad host of users, and / or may be used as a basis for the development of a new aviation standard for the reporting of runway braking action.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]There are existing methods and devices for determining aircraft runway landing conditions. Some of these methods and devices rely on pilot perception of current landing conditions. However, pilot perception may be inaccurate and inconsistent. Some of the other methods and devices rely on ground friction measuring vehicles which attempt to predict the runway landing conditions for aircraft. However, these vehicles may provide inconsistent readings when water, slush, or snow is on the runway; they may not measure real-time changing conditions; and their low relative speed to aircraft may not accurately depict the braking performance of landing aircraft at much higher speeds.[0002]One or more of the existing methods and devices may experience problems taking accurate, consistent, quantitative, definitive, reliable, and / or real-time prediction of runway conditions. This may lead to increased cost, decreased safety, lower runway efficiency, lower braking ...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

However, pilot perception may be inaccurate and inconsistent.

However, these vehicles may provide inconsistent readings when water, slush, or snow is on the runway; they may not measure real-time changing conditions; and their low relative speed to aircraft may not accurately depict the braking performance of landing aircraft at much higher speeds.

One or more of the existing methods and devices may experience problems taking accurate, consistent, quantitative, definitive, reliable, and / or real-time prediction of runway conditions.

This may lead to increased cost, decreased safety, lower runway efficiency, lower braking determination consistency and accuracy, and / or other types of problems.

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